128 Australasian Ornithologists' Vnion. LTstJan. 



personally he would like to take part in one. Mr. Le Souef and 

 Mr. Campbell, he said, ranked with Gould and Gilbert in 

 their studies of the birds of Australia, and he hoped the 

 Union would continue its exertions to save some of the rarer 

 species from extinction. It should certainly advertise its work 

 more. One of the interesting features of Australia was 

 decidedly its bird life, and he thought that many country clergy- 

 men might, like White, of Selborne, be easily induced to 

 become correspondents of the Union, and give their experiences 

 of the habits of birds. If the Union could also induce the ladies 

 to cease wearing bird plumage in their costumes, it would help 

 to preserve bird life — one of the greatest charms in nature. 



Third Day. 



On Friday, 21st November, several of the members visited the 

 National Museum, where, owing to the kindness of Professor 

 Spencer, they were afforded opportunities of seeing many speci- 

 mens not available to the public, as well as the fine collection 

 which that institution possesses. In the evening, the meeting 

 was held in the Royal Society's Hall, Mr. A. H. C. Zietz being 

 in the chair. 



president's address. 



Colonel Legge, R.A., F.Z.S., the president, being unable to be 

 present, sent (in addition to the apology which Mr. A. J. 

 Campbell had read at the dinner) the following telegram : — 



" Brighton Junction Railway, Tas., 21 11 02. 

 " A. Campbell, Customs, Melbourne. 



" Wish congress every success. Regrei my absence much. 



" Legge, Hobart." 

 His address was as follows : — 



Fellow-Members of the Aust. O.U. — 



My apology for the shortness of this address must be that, 

 until I was about to proceed on leave of absence for a few weeks 

 to the mainland, I was not aware that the Union had again 

 done me the honour of electing me as its president for the 

 second year of its existence. I must tender my warm thanks 

 for this graceful tribute of esteem, and I hope I may take it that 

 it is indicative of your opinion that I have the true interests 

 of our Union at heart. I may assure you that such is the case, 

 and that I earnestly hope that it may flourish, and permanently 

 abide as an educational influence for the good of biological 

 science in Australia. Following on the lines of my opening 

 address last year, it may be permitted to me to remark that the 

 true course in front of the Union is that which should lead 

 it to conduct its work — as given to the world in The Emit, — 

 on broad and expansive lines, devoting the pages of the 

 journal to thoroughly scientific and instructive matter, which 

 will advance our knowledge of Australasian and Austro-Malayan 



